The United States remains the world’s
largest R&D investor with projected

$465

Billion
spending in 2014. This is a globally competitive level of research intensity equal to

2.8%
of U.S. GDP

Who is spending the big money:

• In 2014, ten countries will spend about 80% of the total $1.6
trillion invested on R&D around the world; the combined
investments by the U.S., China and Japan will account for
more than half of the total.

• For 2014, we project declines in defense and aerospace R&D,
increases in energy-related research, increases in life science
research and development, strong growth in information
technology research investment and growth in R&D budgets
for chemicals and advanced materials.

Key research investment trends around the globe:

• Given the current, weak economic environment in Europe,
large increases in R&D investments are not expected for the
next several years.

• Emphasis by Southeast Asian countries on economic growth
through increased R&D investments is likely to continue
through the end of the decade.